FCC's World Series Journey Ends

After an electrifying ninth inning and a walk-off victory in their previous World Series game, the Frederick Cougars concluded their extraordinary 2023 baseball season with a heart-wrenching loss against the Lansing Community College Stars. The final score stood at 12-2 in favor of the Stars at the NJCAA DII World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. Despite the defeat, the Cougars had an outstanding journey that resulted in their fourth consecutive NJCAA Region 20 championships. They finished the season with an impressive record of 38 wins and 15 losses.

The match-up with the Stars started with the Cougars taking an early lead in the bottom half of the first inning. Nick Keane's single paved the way for him to advance around the bases and ultimately cross home plate when Adain Masters hit a ground ball, resulting in a double-play.

The pitchers from both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle, retiring the opposing sides without surrendering any runs through the first four innings. However, in the fifth inning, the Stars retaliated, scoring three runs on four hits to seize the lead. Nevertheless, the Cougars fought back, with Masters delivering his sole RBI with a bomb of a sacrifice fly to deep center field. This hit allowed Demetri Jamison to score and moved Keane to third base. Unfortunately, the Cougars couldn't capitalize further before the inning's third out. In the sixth inning, the Stars capitalized on their scoring opportunities, hitting two two-run home runs to extend their lead. They put the game away with a grand slam in the eighth inning.

Offensively, Keane led the way for the Frederick Cougars, going three for four and scoring one run. Brendan Kleiman followed suit with two hits on three at-bats. The Cougars left nine runners stranded on base and committed two errors throughout the game.

Nate Farmer, who made his tenth start and appearance of the season, entered the game with a record of five wins and two losses. He pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits. Farmer also issued three walks and recorded two strikeouts in an eighty-eight-pitch performance. Chris Durkin conceded four runs on three hits, while Adam Watkins replaced him and pitched for one and one-third innings, surrendering two runs on one hit and striking out three batters. Jason Boak closed out the game, making a 12-pitch appearance that included two hits, three runs, and one strikeout.